IHF vs VHT: Grades, Fees and Holdings Compared

iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF

IHFBNYSE Arca

Vanguard Health Care ETF

VHTANYSE Arca

Overlap

14.3%by weight

Expense ratio

VHT −0.28pt a year

IHF0.37%VHT0.09%

Avg volume · 30D

IHF 2.6×the volume

IHF604KVHT237K

10Y return · a year

VHT +1.4pt

IHF+11.0%VHT+12.4%

IHF vs VHT Performance

Oct 29, 2021 – Oct 30, 2026

+12.1%IHF+42.5%VHT

Expense ratio: IHF 0.37%; VHT 0.09%, better
Fund size: IHF $1.47B; VHT $21.8B
1Y total return: IHF +25.1%; VHT +28.7%, better
Yield (12M): IHF 0.91%; VHT 1.35%, better
Holdings: IHF 64; VHT 413
Avg volume (30D): IHF 604K sh, better; VHT 237K sh
NAV per share: IHF $59.89; VHT $342.46
52W range

ETF.net Grade

Pillar letters and Scores for IHF, VHT, with each pillar’s weight
Pillar	IHF	VHT
Cost30% weight	B69	A92Higher
Mission25% weight	Not scored	A82
Risk15% weight	D32	A79Higher
Tradability15% weight	A82Higher	B57
Holdings10% weight	F12	B58Higher
Durability5% weight	A77	A92Higher

Rank among Health Care (Broad) funds

How we build Categories ›

Same Category. IHF and VHT are both graded against the same 25 Health Care (Broad) funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

Health Care (Broad)⁠

Category · 25 funds

See all 25 ›

VHT ranks 3rd and IHF 11th of 25 funds in the Health Care (Broad) Category.

Rank 1AXLVState Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETFScore 85
Rank 2AFHLCFidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETFScore 83
Rank 3AVHTVanguard Health Care ETFScore 77
Rank 4AXHSState Street SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETFScore 74
Rank 10BFXHFirst Trust Health Care AlphaDEX FundScore 58
Rank 11BIHFiShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETFScore 56
Rank 12BIHIiShares U.S. Medical Devices ETFScore 55

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

IHFBiShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF

VHTAVanguard Health Care ETF

In short

IHF Healthcare without the drug labs. IHF tracks a US health care providers index, the insurers, hospitals and care networks that deliver and pay for care rather than invent the medicine, and it has been doing that job since 2006.

VHT The whole US health care sector in one ticket: roughly 400 stocks, an index that reaches well past the megacaps, and a nine-basis-point fee. Trading since 2004, it is one of the category's originals.

Stated mandate

IHF The Fund seeks to track the investment results of an index made up of U.S. equities in the healthcare providers sector. Its stated strategy is to track the Dow Jones U.S. Select Health Care Providers Index before fund fees and expenses.

VHT The fund seeks to track a benchmark index measuring the investment return of health care stocks.

Why people hold it

IHF Owns the delivery-and-payment side of healthcare, not the drug pipeline. That is a genuinely different slice than a whole-sector fund, run off one index since 2006.
Costs 0.37% a year, under the 0.50% median for health care sector ETFs.
A multi-billion-dollar iShares fund with moderate volume: a real market on both sides of the trade.
Lands in the upper half of the broad health care ETFs we grade, a solid showing for such a targeted mandate.

VHT Costs 0.09% a year while the typical fund in its health care peer group charges 0.50%. Same sector, a fraction of the toll.
Roughly 400 holdings drawn from an investable-market index, so mid and small health care companies count too, not just the sector's giants.vanguard.com
Two decades old, now a multi-billion-dollar fund, moderately traded, and it has hugged its benchmark closely. Pays out quarterly.
On cost, tracking and tradability together, it stands among the strongest builds in a 24-fund health care cohort.

Worth knowing

IHF About 60 stocks inside one corner of one sector. A narrow lineup like this can swing harder than a diversified healthcare fund.
Broad healthcare rivals are far cheaper (VHT at 0.09%, XLV and FHLC at 0.08%). The focused mandate is what the extra fee buys.
Distributions land quarterly. This is a growth-oriented equity slice, so income is a byproduct rather than the design.

VHT FHLC and XLV each shave a basis point off the fee. If the fee line is your only tiebreaker, VHT is not the final word.
One sector, one news cycle. Drug pricing rules, patent expirations and regulatory decisions can move the entire basket at once.vanguard.com
Cap-weighted with a 25/50 diversification rule, so no single name can dominate outright, but the largest pharma and insurer positions still steer most of the ride.vanguard.com

Full IHF profile⁠

Full VHT profile⁠

IHF vs VHT Holdings

How IHF and VHT differ

Overlap by weight

14.3%

Shared holdings make up 99.7% of IHF and 14.3% of VHT.

Level by level

Sector8 Sectors0.0%
Holdings60 in both14.3%
Asset classEquity100%
Countryby domicile100%

Sector

Sector weights in IHF and VHT, widest gap first
Sector	More in IHFMore in VHT	IHF	VHT
Health Care	VHT +100.0 points	0.0%	100.0%
Managed Health Care	IHF +43.1 points	43.1%	0.0%
Health Care Services	IHF +35.9 points	35.9%	0.0%
Health Care Facilities	IHF +13.6 points	13.6%	0.0%
Health Care Technology	IHF +7.5 points	7.5%	0.0%
Financials	Same weight	0.0%	0.0%
Industrials	Same weight	0.0%	0.0%
Technology	Same weight	0.0%	0.0%

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Country weights in IHF and VHT, widest gap first
Country	More in IHFMore in VHT	IHF	VHT
United States	Same weight	100.0%	100.0%

Concentration

Weight in the 10 largest Holdings

IHF73.3%
VHT51.8%

Securities held

IHF61
VHT411

Asset class

IHF: Equity
VHT: Equity

Holdings

Only in IHF1
In both60
Only in VHT351

Only in IHF

1 security, 0.3% of IHF by weight

Billiontoone Class A0.31%

Only in VHT

351 securities, 85.4% of VHT by weight

Eli Lilly & Co12.95%
Johnson & Johnson8.79%
AbbVie Inc6.46%
Merck & Co Inc5.02%
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc3.51%
Amgen Inc3.18%
Gilead Sciences Inc2.59%
Abbott Laboratories2.41%
Pfizer Inc2.27%
Intuitive Surgical Inc2.01%
Danaher Corp1.97%
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc1.86%
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co1.78%
Medtronic PLC1.54%
McKesson Corp1.40%
Stryker Corp1.33%
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc1.09%
Moderna Inc0.91%
Boston Scientific Corp0.91%
Natera Inc0.79%
Cencora Inc0.78%
Cardinal Health Inc0.73%
Edwards Lifesciences Corp0.69%
Becton Dickinson & Co0.69%
Agilent Technologies Inc0.68%
IQVIA Holdings Inc0.63%
Waters Corp0.60%
IDEXX Laboratories Inc0.58%
Illumina Inc0.56%
Revolution Medicines Inc0.49%
Biogen Inc0.47%
Dexcom Inc0.47%
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc0.46%
ResMed Inc0.45%
Mettler-Toledo International Inc0.43%
GE HealthCare Technologies Inc0.42%
Zoetis Inc0.41%
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc0.37%
Insmed Inc0.34%
United Therapeutics Corp0.29%
Viatris Inc0.29%
Incyte Corp0.29%
Steris PLC0.29%
Roivant Sciences Ltd0.27%
Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc0.24%
Revvity Inc0.24%
Medpace Holdings Inc0.20%
Charles River Laboratories International Inc0.20%
Exelixis Inc0.19%
Neurocrine Biosciences Inc0.19%

Weight gaps

All 60 Holdings in both funds, largest gap first.

Holding weights in IHF and VHT, widest gap first
Holding	More in IHFMore in VHT	IHF	VHT
UnitedHealth GroupUNH	IHF +17.41 points	22.07%	4.66%
Cvs HealthCVS	IHF +10.30 points	11.83%	1.53%
Elevance Health IncELV	IHF +8.17 points	9.32%	1.15%
Veeva Systems Class AVEEV	IHF +4.54 points	5.12%	0.58%
Hca HealthcareHCA	IHF +3.85 points	4.78%	0.93%
HumanaHUM	IHF +3.78 points	4.42%	0.64%
Centene CorpCNC	IHF +3.72 points	4.15%	0.43%
CignaCI	IHF +3.56 points	4.57%	1.01%
Labcorp HoldingsLH	IHF +3.25 points	3.60%	0.35%
Quest Diagnostics IncDGX	IHF +3.05 points	3.41%	0.36%
Guardant HealthGH	IHF +2.63 points	2.94%	0.31%
Tenet Healthcare CorpTHC	IHF +2.39 points	2.70%	0.31%
Encompass HealthEHC	IHF +1.48 points	1.65%	0.17%
Brightspring Health Services IncBTSG	IHF +1.27 points	1.40%	0.13%
Molina Healthcare IncMOH	IHF +1.17 points	1.31%	0.14%
Ensign GroupENSG	IHF +1.15 points	1.29%	0.14%
Universal Health Services Class BUHS	IHF +1.00 points	1.12%	0.12%
HealthequityHQY	IHF +0.95 points	1.05%	0.10%
Hinge Health Class AHNGE	IHF +0.77 points	0.83%	0.06%
ChemedCHE	IHF +0.77 points	0.86%	0.09%
Davita IncDVA	IHF +0.70 points	0.78%	0.08%
Hims Hers Health Class AHIMS	IHF +0.64 points	0.72%	0.08%
RadnetRDNT	IHF +0.58 points	0.64%	0.06%
Option Care Health IncOPCH	IHF +0.54 points	0.59%	0.05%
Concentra Group Holdings Parent InCON	IHF +0.53 points	0.59%	0.06%
Doximity Class ADOCS	IHF +0.46 points	0.51%	0.05%
Heartflow IncHTFL	IHF +0.44 points	0.49%	0.05%
Lifestance Health GroupLFST	IHF +0.40 points	0.44%	0.04%
Waystar HoldingWAY	IHF +0.38 points	0.42%	0.04%
Acadia Healthcare CompanyACHC	IHF +0.31 points	0.34%	0.03%
Privia Health Group IncPRVA	IHF +0.31 points	0.34%	0.03%
National Healthcare CorpNHC	IHF +0.28 points	0.32%	0.04%
CorvelCRVL	IHF +0.28 points	0.31%	0.03%
Brookdale Senior Living IncBKD	IHF +0.27 points	0.30%	0.03%
Pediatrix Medical Group IncMD	IHF +0.26 points	0.29%	0.03%
Pacs GroupPACS	IHF +0.25 points	0.28%	0.03%
Addus Homecare CorpADUS	IHF +0.25 points	0.28%	0.03%
ProgynyPGNY	IHF +0.24 points	0.27%	0.03%
NeogenomicsNEO	IHF +0.24 points	0.27%	0.03%
Clover Health Investments Class ACLOV	IHF +0.22 points	0.24%	0.02%
Surgery PartnersSGRY	IHF +0.20 points	0.22%	0.02%
Amn HealthcareAMN	IHF +0.20 points	0.22%	0.02%
Genedx Holdings Class AWGS	IHF +0.17 points	0.19%	0.02%
Aveanna Healthcare Holdings IncAVAH	IHF +0.17 points	0.19%	0.02%
Teladoc Health IncTDOC	IHF +0.18 points	0.19%	0.01%
Astrana HealthASTH	IHF +0.17 points	0.19%	0.02%
Schrodinger IncSDGR	IHF +0.16 points	0.19%	0.03%
Pennant GroupPNTG	IHF +0.16 points	0.18%	0.02%
Alignment HealthcareALHC	IHF +0.15 points	0.17%	0.02%
Us Physical Therapy IncUSPH	IHF +0.14 points	0.16%	0.02%
CertaraCERT	IHF +0.14 points	0.15%	0.01%
Castle BiosciencesCSTL	IHF +0.13 points	0.14%	0.01%
Agilon HealthAGL	IHF +0.12 points	0.13%	0.01%
Omada HealthOMDA	IHF +0.11 points	0.12%	0.01%
HealthstreamHSTM	IHF +0.09 points	0.10%	<0.01%
Opko HealthOPK	IHF +0.08 points	0.09%	<0.01%
PhreesiaPHR	IHF +0.07 points	0.08%	<0.01%
Evolent Health Class AEVH	IHF +0.06 points	0.06%	<0.01%
Fulgent GeneticsFLGT	IHF +0.03 points	0.04%	<0.01%
Community Health Systems IncCYH	IHF +0.03 points	0.03%	<0.01%

All 61 IHF holdings⁠All 411 VHT holdings⁠

How we measure overlap

Each holding counts at its smaller weight in the two funds, summed over the full Holdings. Sector, country and asset class use the same rule on each fund’s split. Cash, FX and derivative lines stay out of the counts. Two bond funds get no overlap figure.

IHF vs VHT Cost

Overpaying IHF vs VHT

$5,615

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

IHF 0.37%
$7,513
VHT 0.09%
$1,898

Amount$10,000

Years30 years

Cost over time

IHF 0.37%
VHT 0.09%
Overpaying

Year by year

Year	IHF	VHT	Overpaying
10	$670	$165	$505
20	$2,590	$646	$1,944
30	$7,513	$1,898	$5,615

Expense ratio

0.37%IHF
0.09%VHT, cheaper

VHT0.09%IHF0.37%

0.08%0.85%

Middle half of Health Care (Broad) funds
Median 0.50%

VHT 3rd cheapest of 25 funds

IHF 7th cheapest of 25 funds

IHF vs VHT Dividends

Last 12 months to Oct 30, 2026

Yield (12M): IHF 0.91%; VHT 1.35%, better
Payout (12M): IHF $0.54; VHT $4.61
Last payment: IHF $0.13; VHT $0.97
Ex-dividend: IHF Sep 15, 2026; VHT Sep 23, 2026
Paid on: IHF Sep 18, 2026; VHT Sep 25, 2026
Frequency: IHF Quarterly; VHT Quarterly

Distribution history

Per share, 2017 to 2026, same scale for both

IHFQuarterly · 40 paymentsAll IHF payments⁠

VHTQuarterly · 39 paymentsAll VHT payments⁠

IHF vs VHT Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years: IHF 23.0%VHT 14.5%, better
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years: IHF 0.23VHT 0.83, better
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years: IHF −29.8%VHT −17.7%, better
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years: IHF 0.85VHT 0.59; Market = 1

IHF and VHT in the news

All news⁠

Deep Dive
Health care ETFs spent 2026 between a 28% biotech rally and a 16% device slide
Sep 14, 2026IHFVHT
Top Movers
T-Mobile falls 13.3% and tower stocks rise on the SpaceX spectrum deal
Oct 9, 2026IHF
Category Review
Health care funds trail the S&P 500 this year
Updated Oct 7, 2026VHT
Deep Dive
Eli Lilly is 15% of the biggest health care ETF
Sep 25, 2026VHT
Deep Dive
Health care's 1.8% week was four large caps, not a biotech rally
Sep 19, 2026IHF

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IHF vs VHT

In short

Stated mandate

Why people hold it